Clarke boost for Iron

Manager Nick Daws has provided news of a boost regarding defender Jordan Clarke ahead of his side’s first Austrian friendly on Wednesday evening.

The Iron will face Austrian third tier side SV Seekirchen on campus in Obertraun at 5.30pm UK time, and the right-back should hopefully receive game time in the fixture.

He has spent the last two months recovering from a hamstring injury picked up ahead of last season’s League One play-off semi-final second leg against Rotherham.

Daws told iFollow Iron: “Jordan has progressed really well and has been training fully with the group for the best part of a week now at full contact and completing every session. He’s got up to a level that allows him to get some minutes in on Wednesday, which is important.

“He’s ahead of schedule and it’s good to have him on board. He’s ready now and buzzing about the opportunity. He’s been really good and showed a lot of confidence (in his recovery) during the past seven days.”

Funso Ojo and Josh Morris will continue to miss out on Wednesday, but Daws did have encouraging news regarding the duo.

He continued: “Funso is stepping up his training this week and will hopefully be in a position to join in with the group in training next week. He’s getting good mileage and distances in with the running he can do with the physios, and also using the bikes to keep his fitness high.

“Josh has had a little bit of a setback in the early part of this week with a hip flexor issue that he’s carried for a fortnight now but we’re hopefully he’ll be back in full training before the end of the week and will get some minutes in on Saturday, fingers crossed.”

Speaking about the plans for Wednesday’s game, the boss said: “It’s a competitive game, but also an extension of training really at this stage. The boys have played 45 minutes at Winterton. We replaced the Alfreton friendly with a 45-minute internal game, which was really successful and we got some good minutes into them there.

“On Wednesday, we’ll look to build on it with 60-70 minutes for 11 of the players, and then the remaining players will get that in Saturday’s game. It’s about getting that increased game time into all the squad while we’re here.

“It will be competitive, because it always is. We want to win the game whoever it is, but ultimately it’s about getting good minutes and game time into the boys. I’m looking forward to seeing the next instalment of our pre-season programme.”

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